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What Do GOP Politicians Have Against Protecting National Park Landscapes?

Sep 15th - 11:59am | George

I'm looking forward to the day when conservationist Republicans return to Congress. Back in the 1960s and 70s I saw them standing up for national parks and wilderness. Representative John P. Saylor (Republican of Pennsylvania) was an outstanding advocate for the parks. A group called Republicans for Environmental Protection is now laying the foundation for a resurgence.

Sep 15th - 09:14am | Anonymous

I think part of the problem is that many people who are not GOP as you label them do not want drilling ANYWHERE. So there is discussion about alternatives. I agree it does not make sense to go onto national park land to do so, but if people were not so against it ANYWHERE, those kinds of propositions would not come up.

Sep 14th - 19:16pm | Kurt Repanshek

Bogator, good eyes. I figured when you cut and paste, you don't have to double-check the quote. That said, here's one that's more appropriate:

Sep 14th - 19:01pm | Bogator

Kurt, I hate to be a nitpicker, but in Teddy Roosevelt's quote above, you left the "un" off "unmarred". Without it, the quote reads entirley different.

Sep 14th - 10:57am | Glenn Scofield ...

Though I am no lover of recent GOP policy, I'm also no lover of the distance between the Right and Left in this country right now. That gap makes it difficult for reasonable discourse to occur and keeps good policy from implementation. The GOP has a history (as Kurt pointed out above... Thanks, Teddy!) of supporting conservation issues, including park issues.

Sep 14th - 07:37am | Anonymous

You are so right! Republicans would be drilling on the front lawn of the White House if they thought they would make more money for their oil industry friends! The have no respect for wilderness areas and wildlife as demonstrated by all their ideas.

Sep 14th - 07:13am | PM

GOP: Gas Oil Plutonium

Sep 14th - 06:13am | Barky

The GOP simply doesn't care about anything except ensuring healthy returns for their benefactors.

National Park Mystery Photo 27: Hard to Figure

Sep 15th - 11:42am | J. Ervine

The photo portrays the starting line at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Sep 15th - 11:31am | Anonymous

the surface is brick

Sep 15th - 11:26am | J. Ervine

Trimble block is renowned for its use as a paving stone. It was used to pave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1910.

Sep 15th - 09:03am | Kurt Repanshek

Well, we've got a partial winner. Christy correctly identified the location, but not what the photo portrays. We'll hold her answer a bit to see if she can either circle back and identify what the photo is of or until someone else can correctly ID the location and the subject.

Sep 15th - 08:05am | Kurt Repanshek

Nope, not James Garfield, Connie.

Sep 15th - 07:51am | Connie Hopkins

James A, Garfield Historic site?

Sep 15th - 07:47am | Kurt Repanshek

No, 'fraid not.

Sep 15th - 07:19am | Anonymous

Harry s Truman National historic site

National Park Quiz 86: Ringer III

Sep 15th - 11:27am | y_p_w

I'm just wondering. You qualified that 9 of 10 were true. Wouldn't choosing all answers as "true" get 9 correct? Or randomly choosing 9 as true would either have all 10 correct or 8 of 10?

Reader Participation Day: Where Was Your Worst Dining Experience in the National Parks?

Sep 15th - 11:27am | Lawrence J Caldwell

Over the past three years I have visited and/or dined in the grand old lodges of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon South Rim, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Bryce Canyon, (alas, no lodges), and Zion.

Sep 15th - 11:22am | y_p_w

I've told this before, but my experience was at Bryce Canyon Lodge in 2006 when it was run by Xanterra.

Sep 15th - 11:08am | pkrnger

Kevin, between the hours of lunch and dinner, meals should be available at the cafeteria at Rim Village at Crater Lake, which is only a few hundred yards stroll from Crater Lake Lodge. Also, when the dinning room at Crater Lake Lodge is full, meals and starters can be served to those sitting in the Great Hall area of the Lodge.

Sep 15th - 09:06am | nelson decker

Like everyone else vacation should be stress free but we had the worst meal I have ever had vacation or not at the Canyon Lodge in Yellowstone last month.Service was slower than slow,one entree was not what was ordered another was called prime rib but was grilled mystery meat and was overpriced.We mentioned this to several rangers and employee's of the company and they all agreed bad food dont

Sep 15th - 09:05am | Kevin M

First of all, I love the comments by Connie and Jerry. We try to practice the same. I think most people's expectations are slightly lower in National Parks.

Sep 15th - 08:35am | pkrnger

I agree with Connie. When we travel, we try not to focus on the negative. On the other hand, when prices are high and quality of service is low, some form of public notification should be warranted.

Sep 15th - 08:23am | Lee Dalton

Connie Hopkins -- what a GREAT reply. As for me, my worst dining experience was when I was camping in a drenching rain and all the firewood was completely fireproof and my little butane stove refused to operate. Have you ever tried raw Spam? :))

Sep 15th - 08:16am | JerryC

Dining room at Grant Village, YNP, about 3 weeks ago. Didn't know a couple of pork chops could be so tough. Waiter never came back to check on how the meal was. But, like Connie, chalked it up to just a bad day in the kitchen, or whatever, and let it go. Paid the $50.00 bill, walked outside, and thanked the good Lord for places like Yellowstone.

Sep 15th - 07:47am | Connie Hopkins

I try NOT focusing on negatives while we are on vacation. I figure that vacation is when a person should be the LEAST stressed out in their life. Having said that though, it has happened to us, fortunately just once, turtle-paced waiters and kitchen staff. We shrugged it off and realized that some days are going to be like that, workers being overwhelmed.

All Was Not Lost When Loggerhead Turtle Determined to Nest at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Was Run Over

Sep 15th - 11:21am | matt Stubbs

and an expert speaks...

Sep 15th - 10:46am | Ryan

Mr. Stubbs,

Sep 15th - 10:29am | matt Stubbs

What I believe Mr Johnson is saying and I personally agree with is that you cannot be sure it was not a Ranger or Turtle patrol vehicle that did this with the irresponsible and inconsistant way the NPS handles themselves.

Sep 15th - 09:56am | Ryan

Mr. Johnson,

Sep 15th - 09:45am | Dave Allison

The outcome of the story was not in any way positive. A mature female turtle, one of a species threatened with extinction, that was prepared to nest multiple times this year and for many years into the future was destroyed. The survival of a handful of nestlings, fewer than 1% likely to survive is not ultimately positive.

Sep 15th - 08:48am | Jeff Johnston

While the outcome of this story was ultimately positive, it is clearly intended to position ORV drivers at Hatteras as negligent and careless. Nothing is farther from the truth, hence the reward they offered. I personally witnessed a ranger driving "donuts" within a bird enclosure this spring to taunt fisherman who were on the other side of the barrier. Who is negligent?

Big Trees of Yosemite National Park, the Video

Sep 15th - 11:02am | pkrnger

This is an excellent video. In 1969, when I first came on board in Yosemite Valley as a year-round seasonal park ranger-naturalist, my first illustrated evening program was entitled "A Generation Gap in the Big Trees." The emphasis was on the role of wildfire and reproduction of the giant sequoia.

Sep 13th - 15:46pm | Connie Hopkins

That's Ranger Shelton Johnson, I'd recognize his voice anywhere! The Sequoia's are so incredibly majestic and not fully appreciated unless seen in person. Pictures can not do them justice. My first exposure was in 2006 when I accompanied my husband on a business trip to San Fransisco and there was a very brief outing to Muir Woods. I was in awe!

Search For Missing Plane in Katmai National Park and Preserve Has Covered 17,500 Miles

Sep 15th - 01:17am | Brad Dykes

I know Marco the pilot very well he is a good man and i know if he survived a crash he will walk out some day...CMON MARCO walk out mate,,,,our prayers go out to all missing and searching,, A.B.

Crisp September Weather Brings Crisp Apples, Along with History, To the National Parks

Sep 14th - 17:19pm | Michelle Hansen

I'm fascinated with the historic orchards in parks and I posted some info about the Yosemite orchards in the spring of this year at my travel blog, California Junket: http://www.michelle-hansen.com/journal/2010/5/4/home-apple-blossoms-in-y...

Another Daring Rescue at Yosemite National Park Uses a Bean Bag/Short Haul

Sep 14th - 14:45pm | Anonymous

I'd say attempting El Cap where at least 75% of the party don't know how to rappel is negligent, risky behavior.

The South Unit of Badlands National Park is Likely to Become America's First Tribal National Park

Sep 14th - 08:55am | d-2

As everyone is saying, another fine job. I am glad you are inching toward the key issue of addressing partnership parks. There must be a way the skills developed in the better of the heritage areas can be applied to national park proposals where enlightened conservation is necessary, but no preservation can occur without collaborative management.

Sep 14th - 08:06am | lelandg

Good job on this article!

Sep 13th - 19:33pm | Barky

Yes, thanks for this.

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Buys 20 Acres for The Park

Sep 14th - 04:34am | Randy in NC

Excellent.... Great news

Cost of Search for Missing Plane Over Katmai National Park and Preserve Approaching $1 Million

Sep 14th - 03:51am | Katherine Anderson

We want to say "Thank you" to all the SAR teams, park employees, and anyone still searching for these 4 young men. I have only recently met Marco through his girlfriend and good friend of mine Fa in Phuket Thailand and we are, like the rest of you hoping and praying these men are found alive, healthy and very soon.

Shock-Synthesized Diamonds Unearthed in Channel Islands Reveal a Death-Dealing Extraterrestrial Impact

Sep 13th - 21:14pm | Dennis Cox

The Daulton paper is shamefully inept. From an email from Bunch to Leroy Ellenberger: [color=#400000] Dear Leroy – not to worry, Daulton is a competent scientist and did what he could do with the materials given to him. The problem lies with Scott and Pinter. Some brief reasons why the Daulton et al paper is inept:

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Sep 13th - 20:43pm | crimsontide

m daddy dug ginseng for forty years and i have been digging it since i was 6 years old i remember hen you could sell ginseng any time during the year and hunt it any time bu now you cant and if you wait to september or go asking for permission you aint gonna get no ginseng most ass hole want let you on there property but a week laer they cut there timber so i say to hell with protecting it im g

Think Death Valley Is Parched? This Year It's Twice as Wet As Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site

Sep 13th - 15:45pm | Bob Janiskee

Gosh, y_p_w, I hope you weren't too surprised to find it raining in Hilo. If you check NOAA climate records, you'll see that Hilo gets 180-200 inches of rainfall in a typical year and has more rainy days than just about any city-sized urban place in the entire United States.

Sep 13th - 15:08pm | Pacificislandranger

Pu`ukohola Heiau NHS is located in 1 of 2 small regions on the Big Island that are the only places in the Nation under "Exceptional Drought" conditions. Mount Waialeale has received about 100 inches less this year than normal! (still well over 200 inches YTD). This past winter we were under El Nino conditions, which bring drought to the Islands and heavy rains to the West Coast.

Sep 13th - 14:50pm | y_p_w

I haven't been there (it was just off our planned drive from Hilo to Kona) but I do remember what the Kohala Coast was like. It was warm, dry, and parched. That was compared to the day we landed at Hilo Airport, where it was raining up a storm.

Sep 13th - 13:18pm | Candace

I am surprised to see this. Poor Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site! Death Valley had some flooding events early this year that felt minor compared to the "big flood" a few years past. All that rain added up!

Popular Junior Ranger Program is Expanding to Add "Let's Move Outside" Activities

Sep 13th - 14:54pm | Anonymous

The official policy of the Junior Ranger Program is that no one is to old to be a Junior Ranger. No park is supposed to deny any visitor the right to participate in the Junior Ranger program. However, most of the programs are geared towards 6-13.

Another Record Month of Visitation At Yellowstone National Park

Sep 13th - 14:32pm | TontoParkMan

That's an amazing number! Has there been any increased geyser activity or increased coverage in the media to cause this? Either way, it's well deserved and I really should be going over there soon.

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